Eliot selectmen consider several personnel moves

ELIOT, Maine — Police Chief Theodor Short asked the Board of Selectmen for changes to the structure of his department; but at this time, that will not involve Eliot and Kittery sharing a lieutenant.

RALPH MORANG

ELIOT, Maine — Police Chief Theodor Short asked the Board of Selectmen for changes to the structure of his department; but at this time, that will not involve Eliot and Kittery sharing a lieutenant.

The Eliot Police Department has been without a lieutenant, and Eliot had been discussing sharing the position with Kittery, as Short is also Kittery's chief, but the towns have decided not to go forward.

To strengthen the command structure of the Eliot Police Department, Short last Thursday night asked the board to approve promoting a patrolman to sergeant. He said the police union is in accord.

Creating the sergeant position will decrease the pressure on the department's overtime budget, he said.

Police department staffing was one of several personnel matters discussed by the board July 24.

The position of code enforcement officer has been vacant since December. Planning Assistant Kate Pelletier has taken over some duties of the office and the town has employed three contractors to do inspections.

Town Manager Dana Lee said, "We are almost into August and we are limping by."

He presented the board with a breakdown of having a full-time code enforcement officer as opposed to outsourcing the work. After discussing the increasing workload and permit fees generated, and office hours and inspection time required, the board voted to employ a full-time code enforcement officer again.

In another personnel move, the board promoted Brenda Harvey from assistant clerk at the town offices to tax collector.

In other business

Lee presented selectmen with a schedule for the items to be placed on the November ballot. They include possible modifications to the town's growth ordinance, selecting a Budget Committee member, a sewer pump station bond, and a question regarding dead-end roads.

Discussion centered on the growth ordinance, which is about 40 years old and the first ever adopted in Maine. At first, the ordinance allowed the construction of 48 new houses per year. But according to former Selectman Jack Murphy, the limit has been as low as 20.

Growth in general concerned those at the meeting. Lee said several factors can affect growth, such as lot size or impact fees, and he suggested creating a task force to study the ordinance. Selectmen Chairman Mike Moynahan asked for more information to be available at the board's next meeting.

Selectmen decided not to fill a vacant seat on the Budget Committee by making an appointment. Members are elected by voters. A vacancy was created with the election of former chairman Rebecca Davis to the Board of Selectmen. Former Selectman LeRoy "Dutch" Dunkelberger and resident Robert Pomerleau have requested to be appointed to the open position.

Budget Committee members unanimously backed Pomerleau for the spot. Selectmen decided to have voters choose a new member in November's election.

Selectmen approved the by-laws for the new Harbor Commission and will advertise for residents interested in serving on the panel. Selectmen appointed Tom Phillips as shellfish warden and Elinor Amee as deputy warden. There are several openings on town boards, committees and commissions. Residents interested in serving on a town panel, can send a letter of interest or completed application form to: Board of Selectmen, Eliot Town Office, 1333 State Road, Eliot, ME 03903 or call (207) 439-1813 for information.

The Eliot Festival, held in September, needs volunteers. To volunteer, call the town office at (207) 439-1813.

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